Summer school was in session for more than 200 experts from the United States, United Kingdom and other international partners with the common goal of countering radiological and nuclear threats at home and around the world.
The Radiological and Nuclear Defense Summer Workshop and Industry Day was held June 16-20, 2025, at the Edgewood Area of Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, hosted by the Joint Product Lead for Radiological Nuclear Defense (JPdL RND) within the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense’s (JPEO-CBRND) Joint Project Manager for CBRN Sensors (JPM CBRN Sensors).
Nicknamed “rad-nuc summer school,” the event is part of ongoing collaboration between the U.S. and U.K. on current and future radiological and nuclear defense programs and systems.
Deputy JPEO-CBRND, Nicole Kilgore, kicked off this year’s workshop by acknowledging the significance of the radiological and nuclear defense mission to the National Defense Strategy.
“The JPEO’s scope expanded from chem-bio to include rad-nuc back in 2017,” Kilgore said. “Just recently, a new Assistant Secretary of Defense office was created, and subsequent renaming of deputy ASD offices occurred to include rad-nuc as well…a direct reflection of the administration’s priorities for nuclear deterrence.”
Over the course of four days, the workshop featured presentations from JPdL RND, U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command, U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and U.K. Ministry of Defence, as well as industry displays from 35 radiological and nuclear defense product developers from the U.S. and abroad. Other highlights of the workshop included technology demonstrations and tours in collaboration with the Defense Centers for Public Health (DHA-PH), as well as courses on current radiological and nuclear defense programs.
“Our mission does not take place in a silo,” said Army Lt. Col. Darryl Walker, who oversees radiological and nuclear defense system acquisition for JPM CBRN Sensors. “Our community shares ideas, tackles challenges, and seeks common solutions to strengthen our Joint Force. The conversations this week will not only deepen our relationships, but they will ultimately drive the innovation that will keep our radiological and nuclear countermeasures operationally relevant and our warfighters safe.”
The next event is planned for summer 2026. Hosting duties rotate annually between the JPEO-CBRND, NSWC and U.K. Ministry of Defence.
Deputy JPEO-CBRND, Nicole Kilgore, welcomes participants to the Radiological and Nuclear Defense Summer Workshop on June 16, 2025, at the Edgewood Area of Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.
Thirty-five companies from the U.S. and abroad participated in the Radiological and Nuclear Defense Summer Workshop and Industry Day’s industry displays on June 17, 2025, at the Edgewood Area of Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.